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Car Accidents

Hit-and-run: Always a bad choice

A hit-and-run accident can leave Knoxville families with unanswered questions, hefty medical expenses and heartbreak. In the long run, a driver who leaves the scene of an accident faces severe legal reprisals. The best decision any driver can make is the responsible one: to follow the law, remain at the site of the accident and render assistance in any way possible.

Unfortunately, the driver who fatally struck a pedestrian in Knox County in mid-November opted to disappear from the scene, leaving behind a devastated family to search for answers. Law enforcement was able to identify the vehicle and the driver, whose actions only made the situation more tragic.

Knoxville drivers who end up in such a crash have several legal obligations. The driver’s first responsibility is to provide reasonable aid to injured persons. This includes requesting medical assistance when such treatment is requested by the injured party or when physician aid appears necessary.

Drivers must also report the accident to law enforcement. These days, most drivers are likely to be able to make the emergency call by cell phone, but in areas with poor coverage, it may be necessary to leave the scene to find the closest authority. No driver, however, should depart until the necessary medical assistance has been provided.

Last but not least, drivers involved in a crash are required to exchange vehicle registration and insurance information as well as driver’s license numbers, names and addresses. Failure to follow these steps can have severe consequences, particularly when one or more individuals are injured or killed in a crash. Drivers should never consider hit-and-run a viable option.

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Preventing fatal motor vehicle accidents during the holidays

For many motorists in Tennessee, the holiday season is the perfect time to travel and go see friends and relatives. It is also the time of year when fatal motor vehicle accidents are at their highest. According to USA Today, the number of victims who died from car crashes around Thanksgiving was 436 in 2013. Almost 15 percent of the total fatalities that occurred during the month of November from 2006-2011 occurred around Thanksgiving.

Avoid speeding

Drivers should plan their travels carefully. They should allow for extra travel time so they do not end up rushing or speeding to get to their destinations. They should also remain mindful of speeding motorists. Instead of speeding up or engaging in aggressive driving behaviors in response to them, they should maneuver their vehicles safely out of harm’s way.

Pay attention to road conditions

The weather is usually wet, cold and full of snow during this time of year, leading to slick road conditions. Motorists should monitor the conditions on the roads at all times and adjust their speeds and maneuvers accordingly.

Honor traffic courtesies

There are some rules that many drivers abide by when they are on the roads. These courtesies include not passing on the right, moving to the right lane when they are driving too slow in the left lane and not blinding other motorists by turning off their high beams, states the National Motorists Association.

Hold off on the drinks

Drivers should avoid drinking and driving, especially during this time of year. Alcohol can lead to intoxication and negatively impact their ability to make safe judgments and driving actions. It can also lead to motor vehicle wrecks where fatality is a factor.

Fatal car accidents during the holiday season are preventable. Drivers who plan ahead and take preventative actions can reduce their risk of accidents and death.

Categories
Truck Accidents

Semi-truck drivers and the holidays

With the arrival of the holiday season in Tennessee comes an increase in road activity. More semi-truck drivers are on the roads than usual. Many of these vehicle operators are putting in longer hours so they can meet shipment deadlines and earn extra pay. However, there is a downside that many motorists are not aware of. The longer truck drivers spend on the roads, the greater their risk of car crashes and injuries. According to Safer America, there were 3,906 fatalities that occurred out of 338,000 truck crashes in 2013.

Many truck drivers are tired

Driving for long hours at a time can lead to fatigue and tiredness. Many big rig employers offer their employees incentives for meeting delivery and shipment deadlines ahead of time. Many truckers earn those rewards by driving without taking many or any rest stops. This often leads to them operating vehicles while they are partially aware and so exhausted that they are unable to make safe and sound driving decisions, states GaugeMagazine.com. They may also fail to notice signals and signs of driver intent from other motorists.

Speed and aggressive driving tactics

Some truckers tend to speed and use aggressive driving behaviors so they can reach their destinations on time. Their disregard for traffic rules, signs and the safety of other motorists can create hazardous situations on the road. Other drivers may misjudge their actions and try to compensate for them only to find themselves involved in big-rig accidents.

Truck drivers who are on the roads during the holidays should remember to drive with caution and full alertness. Motorists who are also on the streets should give special consideration to commercial vehicles so they can remain safe when they are around. Drivers should be prepared to drive defensively and to report any odd, improper and unsafe driving behaviors to authorities.

Categories
Truck Accidents

When truckers eat while driving

When truckers in Tennessee drive while they are hungry, they are more likely to engage in distracted driving. This often creates many dangers for other motorists who are sharing the roads with them. Many of them work many hours and may not take many rest or food stops in an effort to meet their shipment deadlines. According to CDL Life, accidents are more likely to occur for truck drivers than it is for other motorists. Government officials and local law enforcement agencies have ramped up their efforts to catch truckers who engage in distracted driving behaviors to reduce the number of accidents, injuries and casualties that occur.

“Eating and drinking while behind the wheel are distracting activities that many drivers, including truckers engage in”, states Napa. By taking their meals on the road with them, they can travel faster. However, doing so also increases the risk of them not paying attention to the roads like they should.

Eating and drinking often requires truckers to remove one or two hands from their steering wheels, making it hard for them to control and maneuver the vehicles properly. In the event of spills and food dropping, truck drivers may also remove their eyes from the roads momentarily. The few seconds to moments their eyes leave the streets and hands leave the wheel are enough time for their vehicles to wander into other lanes. Truckers may also fail to notice driving signals and behaviors of other motorists on the road which can increase their chances of collision significantly.

Truckers should limit their food and drink consumption while they are driving. If that is not possible, pulling over to a safe location on the side of the roads so they can nourish themselves is recommended. This can help to reduce the threat of accident and injury that is associated with truckers who eat and drive.

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Holiday driving dangers

The holiday season in Tennessee is a time that is often filled with joy and happiness for many. However, according to EHS, it is also a time where driving dangers are at their highest. More drivers are on the roads than usual. With higher traffic volumes comes a greater risk of accidents. Motorists who decide to travel during this time of year should make themselves familiar with these dangers so they can take measures to keep themselves safe.

Intoxicated driving

Many people attend family gatherings and parties where alcohol is served. Some of those people who end up drinking find themselves driving while they are intoxicated. The dangers of this behavior impacts everyone because inebriated drivers are not as in control of their driving behaviors as they should be. Alcohol-impaired drivers are responsible for 40 percent of fatal car accidents during the holiday season, states Edmunds.com.

Distracted driving

Drivers have access to hands-free technology and mobile devices that sometimes interfere with their ability to remain focused on the roads. They may feel tempted to send texts, make phone calls and interact more with these devices and their passengers.

Tired and fatigued driving

Some motorists spend long hours on the road in order to get to their destinations. As a result, many of them end up driving while they are tired, fatigued and having trouble focusing on the roads. Some of these drivers do not stop to rest because they do not want to lose any time traveling to their destinations.

Most holiday driving dangers are preventable with careful planning. Motorists who decide to travel during this time should be extra cautious and prepared for accidents.

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Study shows many designated drivers are not sober

In Tennessee, designated drivers have long been perceived as people who do not drink and drive. However, recent research shows that many designated drivers are not always sober when they are behind the wheel. According to a study from NPR Science Desk, as long as their BAC was below the legal limit of 0.08 percent, many people who act as designated drivers think it is okay for them to consume a few alcoholic beverages. 20 percent of the 41 percent of designated drivers in this study drank to the point of impairment.

Many drivers are not aware that they are affected by alcohol until they feel slightly off or buzzed, states CBS News online. However, when buzzed designated drivers are in a car full of intoxicated people, they are more likely to become distracted from all of the loud talking, roughhousing and drunken behaviors that are going on. This increases the risk of accident and injury to everyone significantly.

The study involved 165 designated drivers and bar patrons. Changes in driving abilities and psychomotor functions were evident in designated drivers who consumed enough alcohol to score a 0.05 percent on the Breathalyzer test. Researchers also monitored changes in study particiapnts behavior with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test.

People who accept the responsibility of being designated drivers should avoid drinking alcohol until their duties are fulfilled. Even having as much as one drink can affect their senses and driving behaviors to the point that everyone who is in their vehicles is at risk for accidents.

Categories
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Motorcycle safety

Motorcycle crashes are on the rise in Tennessee. Bikers should practice caution and appropriate safety protocols when they are out riding. According to Consumer Reports, the number of bikers who died in 2015 from vehicle wrecks was 5,000. With the number of motorists on the roads this holiday season approaching an all-time high, priority should be given to motorcycle safety.

Pay attention to road conditions

Bikers should pay attention to current road conditions and driving trends. For example, there is more traffic on the roads during the holiday season, increasing the risk of accident and injury for both car drivers and bikers. Motorcyclists should remain alert, pay attention to their surroundings and other vehicles at all times and drive according to the flow of traffic.

Cut out the reckless behavior

Some bikers use their vehicles to weave in and out of traffic and ignore road courtesies. Others may restrain their bad driving habits until after they encounter other reckless driving motorists. Proper respect and courtesy should be given to all drivers at all times.

Wear motorcycle proper gear

Riders should dress for the weather by wearing the right gear, such as eye protection, riding pants, riding gloves and boots. These articles of clothing can provide riders with a great deal of protection in the event of crashes. Helmets should be worn even though they are not required by law, states Ultimate Motorcycling. The use of helmets can help to keep riders from sustaining life-threatening injuries.

Avoid alcohol and drugs

Motorcyclists should avoid engaging in risky activities before they hit the road. Alcohol should be avoided because it inhibits reaction times, judgment, perception and driving abilities. Prescription drug use should be done with caution because they may be potential side effects that can interfere with a biker’s ability to safely maneuver their vehicle.

Riders who practice motorcycle safety are able to enjoy the freedom and excitement of the roads far longer than those who do not. Participating in regular refresher riding courses and vehicle inspections can also help to keep bikers safe.

 

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Injury accident in Tennessee attributed to impaired driver

Motorists who decide to drive while they are intoxicated or under the influence of a substance in Tennessee are a danger to everyone who is on the road. Their actions are hard to ignore and in some cases to avoid. These people may not fully understand the consequences of their actions. Along with the chances of being involved in car wrecks increasing, their risk of injuries and death skyrockets tremendously. Drivers who operate their vehicles while they are drunk also face many consequences, including fines, criminal charges and more.

Recently, warrants were issued for reckless endangerment, vehicular assault and driving under the influence for a Rockwood man after he crashed his vehicle. He is now in custody at the McMinn County Justice Center after voluntarily turning himself in. According to a law enforcement official who was on the scene of the accident was led to suspect that the 30-year-old driver was impaired because of prescription bottles in the vehicle, as well as the man’s inability to speak clearly and redness in the eyes. His injuries were treated at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

The crash on Interstate 75 caused severe injuries for a passenger, who was flown to the hospital for emergency treatment. Two other vehicles were also involved in the accident. The intoxicated motorist’s vehicle also smashed into two other cars. He is currently held on a $15,000 bond.

Drunk driving accidents are becoming common occurrences. Their consequences are often life-altering. Many victims who are trying to overcome the financial and physical damages caused by a drunk driver often benefit from the guidance of an attorney.

Source: The Daily Post-Athenian, ”DUI arrest after 3-vehicle crash,” Dewey Morgan, Nov. 7, 2016.

Categories
Car Accidents

Teen drivers grow careless over time

Many teen motorists in Tennessee are not being as careful with their driving behaviors as they were when they first started driving. Many of them are growing careless over time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teen drivers are more at risk for car accidents because of certain risk factors, including a lack of experience, an inability to focus on the roads and the inability to make good driving judgments and maneuvers in hazardous driving situations.

Distracted-driving stemming from cellphone use is a major reason why students are becoming more careless with their driving behaviors, states Salon. For every 10 car wrecks that are medium to severe in nature, six teenage motorists were distracted. Many teenagers find it hard to ignore using their cellphones while they are behind the wheel.

Distracted teenage drivers who use their mobile devices at the time of incidents are unable to process their situations properly to maneuver safely to avoid collisions. Some of them feel overly confident in their driving abilities that they think that they can safely spare a few seconds to respond to texts, dial phone numbers and surf the internet.

Many states require teen motorists to grow through a several-step process to get their licenses. This process also limits the use of cellphones while they are driving. It also requires parents to monitor their driving behaviors so they can gain proper driving experience without endangering themselves or anyone else on the roads.

Careless driving amongst teens can be prevented with the right precautions, strict adherence to graduated driving regulations, traffic laws and supervision from parents.

Categories
Drunk Driving Accidents

Technology and DUI

Motorists who drive while they are under the influence in Tennessee are a major hazard for other drivers. New technology is being developed to prevent people from operating their cars and motorcycles while they are intoxicated. There are other ways motorists can deter themselves and others from operating their vehicles while they are inebriated. However, some people still insist on engaging in this dangerous behavior, regardless of how much it puts them and others at risk for accidents, injuries and even death.

According to USA Today, the number of DUI-related deaths that occur each year is 10,000. Using technology, researchers are working to equip vehicles with safety features that will accurately, precisely and quickly monitor the blood alcohol content of drivers from their skin surfaces and through their breath without them being aware.

Law enforcement and government officials are facing mounting pressure to approve the use of in-vehicle sensors to prevent drivers from driving drunk, states Time. This can be particularly beneficial for other motorists because it can help to keep repeat offenders and zero-tolerance drivers off the roads. Vehicle operation is no longer possible if the presence of alcohol is detected by the touch and breath-based sensors for motorists who are in zero tolerance programs. For regular motorists, the sensors will be programmed to monitor for the presence of a BAC that exceeds the legal limit of 0.08. Their vehicles will not start once that limit is reached.

Technology is not the only way to prevent drunk driving. Motorists should educate themselves on actions they can take to prevent it, such as choosing designated drivers, limiting their drinks and not drinking at all.